Published: 7 February 2012
Audrey Gallacher, Director of Energy at Consumer Focus, said: ‘We welcome the move by E.ON to change its Direct Debit policy. It is a victory for common sense and hopefully the first of many steps the company will take in its Reset Review programme to improve the experience of its customers. ‘With this in mind [...]
Published: 12 September 2011
Sarah Brooks, head of financial services at Consumer Focus said: ‘It is welcome that the ICB recommends a banking system based on old-fashioned principles – better capitalised, less leveraged, and focused on the needs of its customers. ‘Nearly three out of four customers never switch their current account and miss out as a result. These [...]
Published: 9 September 2011
Responding to action by the OFT on heating oil price comparison sites, Adam Scorer, Director of External Affairs at Consumer Focus said: ‘This is a welcome step by the Office of Fair Trading in a market where consumers believe they have been losing out. Over a million households use heating oil and last winter’s huge [...]
Published: 7 September 2011
Responding to publication by DECC of the number of homes insulated under the CERT scheme today, Liz Lainé, energy expert at Consumer Focus, said: ‘It is welcome progress that thousands more homes have been insulated under the scheme. We would urge consumers to take up these free and discounted offers to help make their homes [...]
Published: 7 September 2011
Responding to EDF Energy’s announcement today that it will be suspending energy doorstep sales, Audrey Gallacher, Director of Energy at Consumer Focus, said: ‘EDF Energy is the third of the Big Six to suspend doorstep sales and commit to finding a better way to reach their customers. This heaps yet more pressure on npower, E.ON [...]
Published: 6 September 2011
Commenting on the latest complaints figures issued by the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS), Oliver Morgans, financial services expert at Consumer Focus said: ‘These figures provide yet more evidence about our banks’ inability to treat PPI complaints fairly. There has been a massive surge in complaints about this issue with some banks showing a totally unacceptable uphold [...]
Published: 3 September 2011
As consumers become increasingly squeezed financially, and UK household debt is predicted to rise to £2.1 trillion,1 it has become even more important that affordable credit options are available to people on low incomes, warns Consumer Focus in a new report published today. The watchdog’s new report examines high-cost credit and financial inclusion in other countries [...]
Published: 1 September 2011
The fourth quarterly energy complaints league table, published today by Consumer Focus, shows a decrease in complaints about five of the ‘Big Six’ suppliers, with EDF the only firm which has seen an increase in complaints. The Spring quarter saw a general fall in complaints, with particularly low volumes in April.1 SSE remains the supplier [...]
Published: 31 August 2011
‘Banks need to ensure they have an on-going relationship with their customers. They must be upfront and clear with customers when they take out a mortgage that they can check their credit reference score as part of their mortgage contract at any stage of the loan. Banks checking their customers credit score must not come out of the blue.
Published: 31 August 2011
A new report from Consumer Focus – ‘Counter Measures’ – argues that all UK high street banks should allow their customers full access to personal bank accounts through the post office network, to meet consumer demand. The new research suggests that if such a service was available and promoted, the number of people who could [...]
Published: 26 August 2011
Commenting on the Royal Mail Quality of Service figures announced today, Robert Hammond, Director of Postal Policy and Regulation at Consumer Focus said: ‘Royal Mail’s performance on first class post in the first quarter is disappointing with 91.4% of post being delivered on time as against the target of 93%. Royal Mail missed its delivery [...]
Published: 24 August 2011
In response to the Treasury Select Committee’s report on the future of cheques, Sarah Brooks, Director of Financial Services at Consumer Focus said: ‘We echo the Committee’s calls that cheques must not face an unmanaged decline. Cheques may not be able to survive forever but they must stay until there are workable alternatives that suit [...]
Published: 19 August 2011
This month:
- British Gas responds to our calls to suspend doorstep sales
- Digital spectrum – a digital news update
- New online tools for behaviour change
- A preview of our energy event coming up in October
- What’s new from Consumer Focus – our latest research and reports
Published: 19 August 2011
Welcoming the Competition Commission’s provisional finding of a lack of competition in the pay-TV market for Hollywood movies, Jill Johnstone, Director of Consumer Rights Policy at Consumer Focus said: ‘The Competition Commission found that Sky enjoys a stranglehold on movies watched on pay-TV leading to a lack of effective competition and reduced consumer choice. We [...]
Published: 18 August 2011
Responding to proposals on the smart meter roll-out programme today by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC): Zoe McLeod, energy expert at Consumer Focus, said: ‘DECC has announced some welcome moves today. But more work is needed to make sure that the protections and benefits households and small businesses need on smart meters [...]
Published: 18 August 2011
Hannah Mummery, energy expert at Consumer Focus, said: ‘Energy firms should clearly charge for the right amount of units at the old and new rates when prices change, especially when their customers go to the time and effort of making sure their meter reading is correct. Sadly however that’s not always happening as suppliers often [...]
Published: 2 February 2012
Responding to Ofcom’s new research on UK broadband speeds, Annie McGovern, Digital Expert at Consumer Focus Scotland, said: ‘It’s good news that the Ofcom research shows customers are getting faster broadband speeds but many people across Scotland will take some convincing. There is still a digital divide in Scotland between the speeds people can get [...]
Published: 31 January 2012
Annie McGovern, digital expert at Consumer Focus Scotland said: “Consumers in Scotland want fast and reliable broadband services and to be able to keep pace with all the new fantastic technology developments the 21st century will offer. Having the right infrastructure in place is absolutely critical to doing this. “These commitments by the Scottish [...]
Published: 25 January 2012
More work needed to make Green Deal right for consumers The success of the UK government’s Green Deal – the new scheme intended to transform the energy efficiency of homes and businesses and lower fuel bills – needs more work for consumers in Scotland to be convinced. In response to the UK government’s ‘Green Deal [...]
Published: 24 January 2012
Consumer watchdog response to post office deal Responding to the UK government’s announcement that Royal Mail and Post Office Limited (POL) have agreed a commercial arrangement that will provide a significant amount of security for the network over the next ten years, Sarah O’Neill, Director of Policy at Consumer Focus Scotland said: “This ten year [...]
Published: 24 January 2012
Trisha McAuley, Deputy Director at Consumer Focus Scotland said: “It is good news that water charges are not going up. Households budgets are under a lot of pressure with the high cost of basic items such as energy and food so consumers need to see value for money from their public services and will expect [...]
Published: 6 February 2012
In a report Staying Local: the Future of the Post Office Network, the consumer watchdog found that while there are clear benefits for customers in PO Locals, consumers also have concerns.
Published: 2 February 2012
Consumer Focus Wales is calling on consumers to back their campaign to make changes to food law in Wales.
Published: 31 January 2012
Consumer Focus Wales has asked AMs to support action to protect people who live in park homes from financial abuse by rogue site owners.
Published: 18 January 2012
“More than two in every five Welsh consumers have never switched their energy supplier. Many of those who have switched have done so just once, switching from separate gas and electricity suppliers to a dual fuel deal. That means as many as eight out of ten households in Wales could be paying more than they need to heat their homes." - Lindsey Kearton, Consumer Focus Wales.
Published: 9 January 2012
We believe that these goals, which have been drawn from our major consultation exercise with consumers in all corners of Wales – will provide a fitting legacy for all the hard work undertaken by Consumer Focus Wales.
Published: 5 February 2012
A new report published today by Consumer Focus Post – called ‘Consumer Friendly Post Offices?’1 – examines how well the Post Office network is meeting the needs of Northern Ireland consumers. The new findings show that post offices are well-used and valued, with four in 10 consumers visiting the post office once a week, increasing [...]
Published: 24 January 2012
Responding to the news that Royal Mail and Post Office Limited (POL) have agreed a commercial arrangement that will provide a significant amount of security for the network over the next ten years, Kellin McCloskey, Head of Postal Policy at Consumer Focus Post said: ‘We welcome this announcement by Edward Davey – a ten year [...]
Published: 5 December 2011
Consumer Focus Post is calling for people to think about posting cards and presents and ordering online Christmas shopping earlier this year. Many people may be risking Christmas disappointment by posting their Christmas mail and doing their online Christmas shopping at the last minute. Kellin McCloskey, Head of Postal Policy at Consumer Focus Post said: [...]
Published: 24 October 2011
Responding to Simon Hamilton MLA’s call today for drivers in Northern Ireland to be allowed to renew their car tax online, Kellin McCloskey, Head of Postal Policy at Consumer Focus Post, ‘Consumers in Northern Ireland need a range of options for renewing their car tax, or indeed accessing any government service. Access both online and [...]
Published: 20 October 2011
Responding to Ofcom proposals on regulation of the postal service, Kellin McCloskey, Head of Postal Policy, Consumer Focus Post, said: ‘The proposals made by Ofcom today suggest major change for the future of Northern Ireland’s postal service. We must ensure the right balance between putting Royal Mail on a stable footing and ensuring value and [...]
